KENYA RURAL ACCESS ROADS AND GRAVELLING, BRIDGES AND CULVERTS PROGRAM

On-site evaluation covers the period 1/1/77-10/1/79 and is based primarily on interviews with intended beneficiaries. The evaluators could not determine the project"s actual benefits because most roads are still under construction or only newly completed. Local persons hired to work on road construction and maintenance are the clearest direct beneficiaries. About 92% of these workers are men; most are less than 30 years old, own little or no land, and live near the work site. Wages provided to these people will improve their purchasing power and strengthen the local economies. The evaluators surveyed local residents as to the benefits they expect. Most people did not see increased agricultural production -- the project"s goal -- as the primary benefit, but rather increased access to primary schools and health services. (Project personnel judge that agricultural benefits will be more evident in the future and that increased access to health facilities will not automatically improve the people"s health, since health needs are more preventive that curative). Distribution of benefits cannot yet be precisely determined, but it is clear that the greater share will go to those who control local resources. Extra efforts must be made to ensure that the targeted group--the rural poor--also benefit from the roads. Local participation, especially in site selection, is emphasized in the project, but ineffective local organization and reluctance of government officials to share decisionmaking authority has limited local action. The selection process is deemed fairly efficient, but new economic and social indicators are needed. It is recommended that more women be included on development committees at every level; roads be coordinated with other development projects, especially forestry; efforts be made to utilize existing local knowledge; local needs be recognized; and local participation be increased. District Development Committees should incorporate additional information categories into their plans to allow more extensive use.